Extensible user interface (XUI) framework and development environment

Abstract

A web application development environment and method employs an extensible user interface (XUI) Framework for creating GUI-managing components written in a declarative format for handling GUI components in a web application. The GUI-managing components are coordinated in a view presentation layer by a Controller in an Extended-Model-View-Controller (XMVC) pattern in conjunction with the business logic layer. The Controller is invoked by a user request for a web page and in turn invokes the GUI-managing components to parse information contained in a corresponding web application file for the requested web page in order to determine the templates and sub-templates to be invoked for handling the GUI components. Each template has a mode value which is set by mode information contained in the web application file for the requested web page. The XUI Framework has the ability to handle a rich set of GUI components without having to implement web applications development technologies. Instead, the declarative-formatted GUI components can be created and processed using lightweight technologies for client-side and server-side processing. The XUI Framework allows for the efficient authoring and processing of GUI components for a wide range of web applications.

1 . A method for web application development comprising: 
 providing an extensible user interface (XUI) framework for developing modular and extensible GUI-managing components residing in a view presentation layer separate from a business logic layer for a given web application, wherein the GUI-managing components are written in simple declarative format referencing predefined templates to be invoked for handling GUI components to be incorporated in a view of a requested web page, and    using an Extended-Model-View-Controller (XMVC) pattern of operation of the view presentation layer wherein an XMVC Controller coordinates the functions of the GUI-managing components by invoking the referenced templates for handling the GUI components in the view presentation layer and generating a view of the requested web page in conjunction with application data provided by the business logic layer.    
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the XMVC Controller is invoked by a user request for a web page and in turn invokes the GUI-managing components to parse information contained in a corresponding web application file for the requested web page in order to determine the templates and sub-templates thereof to be invoked for handling GUI components in the view presentation layer.  
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the XMVC Controller invokes the GUI-managing components by importing respective templates and sub-templates thereof, wherein each template has a mode value which is set by mode information contained in the web application file for the requested web page.  
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a Layout Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of positioning and shaping GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a Component Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of organizing and invoking each desired GUI component to be included in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a Localized Content Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of organizing and rendering localized labels and images for GUI components to be included in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a Look-and-Feel Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility of organizing and rendering a desired look-and-feel format for presenting GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein an Event Manager is a component of the GUI-managing components and has the responsibility for determining and handling events for each desired GUI component in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the GUI components are rendered by the GUI-managing components to exhibit polymorphic behavior through a hierarchical form of organization of the referenced templates and sub-templates.  
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein the Layout Manager includes sub-templates for selected layout algorithms for positioning and shaping GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the Component Manager includes sub-templates for stylesheets, scripts, and other GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the Localized Content Manager includes sub-templates for localized images and labels to be used for GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 7 , wherein the Look and Feel Manager includes sub-templates for different look-and-feel formats to be used for GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the Event Manager includes sub-templates for different event handlers for GUI components in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said templates incorporate pre-defined GUI components designed to create “deliberate kinship” by emulating techniques, patterns, conventions and standards of conventional windowing environments.  
     
     
         16 . An environment for web application development comprising: 
 an extensible user interface (XUI) framework for developing a number of modular and extensible GUI-managing components residing in a view presentation layer separate from a business logic layer for a given web application, wherein the GUI-managing components are written in simple declarative format referencing predefined templates to be invoked for handling GUI components to be incorporated in a view of a requested web page, and    an XMVC Controller for coordinating the functions of the GUI-managing components in an Extended-Model-View-Controller (XMVC) pattern of operation by invoking the referenced templates of the of the GUI-managing components and delegating control to the respective GUI-managing components for managing their respective functions for handling GUI components in the view presentation layer and generating a view of the requested web page in conjunction with application data provided by the business logic layer.    
     
     
         17 . A web application development environment according to  claim 16 , wherein the XMVC Controller is invoked by a user request for a web page and in turn invokes the GUI-managing components to parse information contained in a corresponding web application file for the requested web page in order to determine the templates and sub-templates thereof to be invoked for handling GUI components in the view presentation layer.  
     
     
         18 . A web application development environment according to  claim 16 , wherein the XMVC Controller invokes the GUI-managing components by importing respective templates and sub-templates thereof, and wherein each template has a mode value which is set by mode information contained in the web application file for the requested web page.  
     
     
         19 . A web application development environment according to  claim 16 , wherein the GUI-managing components include a Layout Manager for positioning and shaping GUI components in a view of a web page, a Component Manager for organizing and invoking each desired GUI component to be included in a view of a web page, a Localized Content Manager for organizing and rendering localized labels and images for GUI components to be included in a view of a web page, a Look-and-Feel Manager for organizing and rendering a desired look-and-feel format for presenting GUI components in a view of a web page, and an Event Manager for determining and handling events for each desired GUI component in a view of a web page.  
     
     
         20 . A web application development environment according to  claim 16 , wherein the GUI components are rendered by the GUI-managing components to exhibit polymorphic behavior through a hierarchical form of organization of the referenced templates and sub-templates.